Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 198, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 September 1917 — PLAN FOR BIG BASKET DINNER [ARTICLE]

PLAN FOR BIG BASKET DINNER

In Honor of Member* of Company M Who Are To Depart Monday. As soon as it became known that the members of Company M were likely to leave for Fort Harrison on next Monday, local citizens began to wonder what kind of an entertainment would suit the members of the company most, prior to their departure to* the fort. Mayor Charles G. Spitler has suggested a plan which no doubt will meet with the approval of all concerned. The mayor has suggested that a big basket dinner be served in honor of the soldiers of the local company on next Sunday, and to accompany it with an all day program. The idea was readily accepted by all who heard of it and plans are to be started at once to make the affair one of the most memorable occasions ever held in the county. It has been suggested by Mayor Spitler that all who care to participate in the day’s celebration be invited and that all bring well filled baskets of eatables to be shared with the soldier boys. Each family attending could bring a little more food than they would need for themselves and this could be turned over to the committee in charge of preparing the meal for those in whose honor the celebration is held. As yet there have been no definite arrangements made and committees will have to be appointed in order that all possible haste can be made. The dinner could no doubt be held on the court house lawn or in Milroy park, or some place which would be the most convenient to all. The only drawback to the two places mentioned would be the lack of sufficient shade for protection from the sun’s rays. Captain Garland is hearily in favor of the plan which is to be pursued in bidding farewell to the members of the company and has agreed to have all the men present to give drills and help make the day a success. No man will be allowed to leave the city during Sunday in order to make certain that all of them will be here on Monday morning when .the train leaves for Indianapolis. As soon as more definite arrangements in regard to the Sunday program have been made, they will be published. In the meantime the entire community is asked to gte busy and do their share toward making the day one to be remembered by the soldiers.